CONDITIONS

COVID

COVID-19 (coronavirus disease 2019) is a contagious respiratory illness caused by a virus called SARS-CoV-2. It spreads when a person who has the infection breathes out droplets and very small particles that contain the virus.

Symptoms include:

• Fever/chills
• Cough
• Shortness of breath
• Fatigue
• Muscle/body aches
• Headache
• New loss of taste or smell
• Sore throat
• Congestion/runny nose
• Nausea/vomiting
• Diarrhea

If you are experiencing any of these symptoms, our office offers rapid COVID tests.

SHORTNESS OF BREATH

Shortness of breath refers to difficulty breathing. You may feel like you cannot catch your breath or feel unable to take a full or deep breath. Shortness of breath may indicate an underlying health condition coming from the lungs, heart, digestive tract, neurologic disorders, or psychological disorders.

COUGH

A cough is a natural reaction that occurs when an irritant enters your airway or when you have excessive mucus in your lung or bronchial tubes. Coughing forces these substances out and prevents them from causing inflammation or infection in your lung.

An acute cough usually develops when you have an upper respiratory infection caused by a cold, flu, or acute bronchitis, and may last a few weeks.

Coughs that last longer than eight weeks may indicate an underlying health condition that needs medical attention. A formal evaluation of a chronic cough is advised.

WHEEZING/ASTHMA

Asthma is a chronic disease that affects the lungs and the airways, causing inflammation in the airway lining. When the lining is irritated, the muscles along the airways tighten, causing airways to become narrower and restricting the flow of air to and from the lungs. People with asthma are extremely sensitive to specific triggers, such as pollen or smoke, and even changes in temperature, experiencing flare ups or asthma attacks when their symptoms worsen.

Symptoms include:

• Persistent cough
• Chest tightness
• Difficulty breathing
• Colds and coughs lasting more than 10 days
• Flare ups with changes in temperature or strenuous exercise

COPD

Chronic obstructive pulmonary disease (COPD) is an umbrella term that includes chronic bronchitis and emphysema. Most people with COPD have both conditions, but some COPD patients may have only one.

Bronchitis is common after a cold or flu but should clear up in about two weeks. Some people have bronchitis that persists or recurs frequently. It blocks the central airways in your lungs (the bronchi) with mucus, causing irritation and swelling.

Emphysema damages the alveoli (air pockets) in your lungs. Air becomes trapped in the lungs, so you find it hard to breathe. When you’re not taking in enough air, your body doesn’t get the oxygen needed to function properly.

Symptoms include:

• Persistent cough that produces mucus
• Shortness of breath
• Tightness in the chest or lungs
• Wheezing
• Fatigue
• Frequent respiratory infections
• Unintended weight loss

ALLERGIES

Allergies occur when your immune system overreacts to specific substances, in which your body’s defense system sends out antibodies to battle what it perceives as a threat to the body and to health. Allergies can cause symptoms like coughing, wheezing, sneezing, hives and swelling under skin and in the mouth and throat.

If you are experiencing any of these symptoms, our office offers in-house allergy testing.

OBSTRUCTIVE SLEEP APNEA

Sleep apnea is a condition that causes your breathing to pause or become shallow while you sleep. These interruptions in your normal breathing patterns can cause you to fall out of deep sleep and into light sleep, a pattern that is disruptive to your overall sleep cycle and can make you drowsy during the day.

There are two main types of sleep apnea: obstructive and central. Obstructive sleep apnea is the more common of the two and occurs when the throat muscles relax, blocking the airway.

Symptoms include:

• Loud snoring
• Episodes in which you stop breathing during sleep
• Gasping for air during sleep
• Awakening with a dry mouth
• Morning headache
• Difficulty staying asleep
• Difficulty staying awake or paying attention during the day
• Irritability

SLEEP DISORDERS

Sleep disorders refer to changes or disruptions in your normal sleep patterns. Sleep is an essential part of maintaining overall health and wellness–disruptions in sleep patterns and habits can increase your risk for heart disease, heart attack, high blood pressure, stroke and diabetes.